temp sensitive powders

calixt0 · Dec 10, 2017

hello all,

I'm getting ready to work up some loads for my 270. I not new to reloading but not an expert either. I keep hearing people talking about powders that are not temp stable. I don't care to have a gun that shoots .2 moa or anything so my question is this.. If I work up my load this time of year and go out to shoot in July or August where heat is high am I gonna blow my face off as long as my load isn't flattening primers or stiff bolt lift or anything?

D. Hargrove · Dec 10, 2017

NIMO.

dennishoddy · Dec 10, 2017

There are some powders more temperature sensitive than others. Some are very non temperature sensitive. Varget for example is known the be temperature neutral.
The only way you would get in trouble is if you loaded a max load that slightly flattened the primer in cold weather then took that load to extreme high temp areas, but it's doubtful it would cause any damage.
Blue dot, a shotgun and pistol powder is known to be inversely temp sensitive. It actually gains pressure during colder temps.
If your curious how it may affect your load, Put some rounds in the freezer overnight, take them to the range in an ice chest with ice, and run them through a chronograph. Then put some on the dashboard of the vehicle with the windows up in the sun, and let them warm up.
You might see 100 fps difference in velocity. At normal hunting ranges under 400 yds, it's likely you wouldn't notice the difference.
If you're shooting benchrest or long range precision shooting, they pay close attention to temperature sensitivity.

calixt0 · Dec 11, 2017

Thats what I was thinking but needed to hear it from someone else.. wouldn't be the first time my thinking was wrong.. LOL

Shriner · Dec 14, 2017

The New IMR powders are temp stable, The big problem with temp sensitive powders is building a load that works great at 98* in Sept and going to Wyn Elk hunting in Nov at 34* and having a 6 foot drop on a 250 yds shoot . If you have to use a temp sensitive powder you should try to test the loads near the temps you may see --place the ammo in a mini ice chest with hot hands packs for hot trips or ice packs for cold trips

temp sensitive powders

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